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Topic Review (Newest First)

11-15-2012 04:01 PM

kiya

1 cup flour
2 cups potato flakes
1/2 cup chicken broth (can use 1 cup to make more moist)
2 eggs
1lb of liver (beef or chicken)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (I use less)
I use my food processer to chop the liver. Pour into mixing bowl. I put the chicken broth & eggs in the food processer (makes for easier cleaning). Then mix all ingredients together. Put in greased pan (I use 2 cake pans).
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
When ever I say "brownies" my dogs get excited. I used them when trying to convince Kiya she shouldn't eat the new kitten.

I just used what was going on around me. One day we had a repair man come in, my husband was in the other room with him. Normally loud mouth Apache would be barking up a storm, not this time. My husband was shocked, Apache stayed quiet and patiently waiting for more delicious liver brownies.
If I were taking the dogs past a house that I know thier dogs would charge the fence barking at my dogs, I would stop before my dogs started looking for the charging dogs, get my dog to look at me, good dog good dog, specially if the other dogs were out and my dog was not looking at them. Then I would end the session, not go any further.
My dogs love my liver brownies so much I can get there attention back to me in a snap, want the recipe?

The best time to distract her is before she reacts. Watch her body posture, ears, around her eyes and mouth for signals. Depending on her threshold you may only have seconds to see it. Call her to you, redirect and walk in a curve around the dog or another direction.

Walking in a arch/curve works. I still do this with Apache. Now as soon as I start to curve he doesn't bark and I tell him come on lets go.
You'll probably never get her to like other dogs, but ignoring them is just as good.

11-15-2012 03:43 PM

kiya

I just used what was going on around me. One day we had a repair man come in, my husband was in the other room with him. Normally loud mouth Apache would be barking up a storm, not this time. My husband was shocked, Apache stayed quiet and patiently waiting for more delicious liver brownies.
If I were taking the dogs past a house that I know thier dogs would charge the fence barking at my dogs, I would stop before my dogs started looking for the charging dogs, get my dog to look at me, good dog good dog, specially if the other dogs were out and my dog was not looking at them. Then I would end the session, not go any further.
My dogs love my liver brownies so much I can get there attention back to me in a snap, want the recipe?

11-15-2012 03:32 PM

Pattyobrien3

I think the instructions in the BAT PDF seem pretty straightforward, but I don't really know anyone with a dog that I could work with.

Is there a way to modify the BAT method with a dog approaching us, instead of vice versa?

Taking them for separate walks sounds like a good starting point. I do try to distract her whenever she sees another dog, but when she gets to barking she becomes pretty unresponsive.

The best time to distract her is before she reacts. Watch her body posture, ears, around her eyes and mouth for signals. Depending on her threshold you may only have seconds to see it. Call her to you, redirect and walk in a curve around the dog or another direction.

Example with Woolf - he will stand tall, ears alert - ok he is interested could go either way, react or ignore - mouth closes and he is still - seconds to redirect or he explodes.

11-15-2012 02:06 PM

Pattyobrien3

Taking them for separate walks sounds like a good starting point. I do try to distract her whenever she sees another dog, but when she gets to barking she becomes pretty unresponsive.

She has never been clicker trained before, but I am trying to incorporate that into her training in order to use it when walking.

They really do enjoy their walks, and I like taking them, but it's annoying when they don't behave themselves.

11-15-2012 01:08 PM

Blanketback

I'm also going to advise you to forget about the dog park. Some of the dogs I've seen there are just on the borderline of losing it, and it's only the fact that the others dogs around them are so neutral to them that prevents a fight. It's not worth the risk.

11-15-2012 01:02 PM

Kayos and Havoc

I agree about the dog parks, too much stress for her. I would take her for quiet walks by herself. When you see other dogs turn away before she can react and reward her for coming with you. Allowing her to react reinforces the reaction. You may never be able to train her to be social and interactive with other dogs in the time you will have her but you can help her cope better.

I imagine if she is not socialized wll she is probably reacting out of uncertainty. If you can give her a structure way to respond, like turning and walking away, she may improve over time. You will never be able to fix a 10 year old habit in any short stretch of time.

Walk the male by himself too.

FWIW: my dogs are all well socialized and not reactive, but when wlaked together they tend to 'pack up' and can become reactive if the on coming dog is reactive.

11-15-2012 12:46 PM

Stevenzachsmom

Absolute NO dog park. Just me, but I would not stress out an older dog by trying to get her to tolerate other dogs. To what purpose? I lost my 14.5 year old girl in August. She never liked other dogs and lived quite happily without them. She learned to ignore other dogs on walks, but most of her play time was in the yard. In her last years, she actually did make a few doggie friends. Totally agree with Jean. Keep the old girl happy. Make life pleasant, especially if this is only temporary.

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